Emery

My eyebrows furrow at the sound of my phone ringing, making me let out a deep sigh before glancing back at Emma—who has fallen asleep for the past couple of hours while I've been busy going through next week's activities with the duke.

''Hello?'' I answer.

All of a sudden, I start to hear curses coming from Cole; which surprises me. It has been a week since I've left Australia and I haven't heard from them since then, why would he call me out of the blue and begin cursing at me? What have I possibly done wrong?

''You son of a bitch! Do you think you're all mighty now, just because you're a fucking prince?'' He says, loudly in anger as I try to process what's currently happening.

''Wait. Cole, what's going on?'' I breathe.

''The fuck, man! I trusted you,'' He replies.

I quickly stand up straight before exiting the room; not wanting to wake Emma. If Cole is pissed at me about something then we can talk about it—probably settle things through but I'm not going to involve my wife in this situation, she doesn't have to know.

''What the hell are you talking about?'' I try to control my tone, not wanting to wake anyone up at this side of the wing; deep down, I just feel like screaming back at him for doing the same but I need to be able to control my anger—things doesn't always have to end up with fighting.

''You're a fucking liar,'' He says.

''The fuck did I do?'' I pinch the bridge of my nose.

''Since when are you fucking oblivious? Don't act like you've done nothing wrong when you slept with my sister before you left! Not just that, you're a married man who apparently cheated on his wife,'' He replies, making me clench my jaw in anger; trying my best to control the amount of it from escaping.

''Look, Cole. You don't have the right to call me in the middle of the night and start shouting at me because you have no fucking clue what she did,'' I mutter.

He scoffs, ''Now, you're blaming her?''

''I'm blaming no one! You clearly heard her side but what about mine? You're my friend,'' I reply.

The two of us end up quiet for the next few seconds; he probably realises that he did attack me out of nowhere in the middle of the night without hearing what I have to say about this, about Hannah.

Hannah must've said it to his brother and probably blame it all on me—accuse me of taking advantage of her when she was the one who planned it all. She wanted it to look like I cheated with her.

Without further ado, I begin to make my way down the hall before walking down the stairs; wanting to head straight towards the garden. If I stay there for the rest of this conversation, no one will hear.

It's too risky talking here in the palace.

''I don't know, man.'' He sighs, deeply.

Once I've arrived at the garden, I stand near the fountain as I look up at the dark sky—seeing the stars up above. Just like that, I start to sigh again.

''Tell me. What did she tell you?'' I ask, nicely.

''She told me about that night you two slept together. Look, Emery, I was okay with the fact that you have been sleeping with my sister before you were even married but that's the fucking point. It was before you were married but now you're a married man. You have a wife, you have more responsibilities and I just thought that you're a better man now,'' He replies.

''The thing is, Cole, I'm not even sure if anything happened that night—want to know why?'' I speak.

He breathes out, ''What do you mean, Emery?''

''I let her in that night because she came over to apologise so I thought that she would just leave me alone after—besides, I was leaving Australia the next morning; which she clearly knew.'' I mutter under my breath but loud enough for him to hear.

Cole keeps quiet, only listening to my explanation.

''But, I couldn't remember what happened afterwards because all I knew was that I fell unconscious. The next morning, I woke up with a note—it was her handwriting. She told me that last night was great and that it would be our little secret. Does that even make any sense to you? I am a better man, Cole. I don't have feelings for your sister because I love my wife and no one will be able to change that,'' I add.

My words were clear and precise.

I, am and will fully commit myself to Emma.

''What the hell is going on?'' He breathes out before muttering curses which is not clear enough for me.

All of a sudden, it hits me with realisation.

''Wait. Y—you wouldn't just call me because of this. You wouldn't just be mad at me for sleeping with your sister; if we slept together. There must be more,'' I say, wanting him to speak the truth.

He stays quiet for a few seconds, hesitating.

''There's nothing more. Believe me,'' He replies.

''That's the thing. I don't,'' I mutter.

To my surprise, he starts to chuckle before speaking, ''Whatever I have in mind, it's no longer your concern and besides, I heard about you and your wife in the news. I'm more than happy to congratulate,'' He says but I can hear his tone changing, slowly.

''Cole, tell me. Did Hannah say something else?''

The silence accompanying us, no interruptions. That's the thing with Cole; he hesitates but his hesitant is clear and is easily detected. He's not a good liar.

''She's pregnant, Emery.'' He says, silencing me.

My mind goes blank at the words he said, knowing that there's a possibility that her pregnancy may be fake—she could be lying about this in order to ruin my almost perfect life; she wants to see me suffer. Then again, she could be saying the truth. A painful one.

''N—no. She's not,'' I feel my legs weakening.

''I went to the ultrasound with her. I don't know what other things she has planned but she is pregnant,'' He replies, ''But, Emery, just forget about this.''

If, the pregnancy is real, how can it be real?!

We didn't sleep together, that's positive but then again, we might've slept together and it was just me who didn't remember a single thing. My whole life is going to fall apart if this is the truth because for one, this will all crumble—my marriage, my family.

''You can't possibly believe her,'' I groan, ''She could be lying to your face about her pregnancy because she maybe just want something out of it. Probably power or money but whatever it is, she's not pregnant.''

Cole sighs, ''I don't know if she's going for your money or power or title or anything that has to do with you but for what I'm sure is that she is not lying. She is pregnant—that's the reason why I called but now I don't have the heart to ruin your marriage for the sake of my idiotic sister,'' He continues to speak.

I close my eyes at the sudden burden that's hitting.

''Man, you have got to help me. Emma and I are expecting a baby; Hannah can't—no offence but she can't be the one to ruin it all for me. Besides, I'm not even sure if we slept together that night! How can that night be any different than the other nights we've spent together? None. You have to help,'' I say.

I immediately turn to see Emma heading towards my direction, causing me to quickly turn around before hearing Cole through the other line. My whole body trembles in fear at the sudden outcome; what if, just what if Cole's telling the truth. The painful truth that can change my entire path, my future.

''You can trust me. I'll make sure to tell everything when I get to the bottom of this—we'll see if the baby is yours or not because I'm your friend. We've been close to each other and I want to help. You deserve the truth for your happiness. Trust me,'' I smile at his words because I know that he'll be there for me.

''Thank you, Cole. I got to go,'' I end the call after hearing him muttering 'okay' before turning to see Emma already nearing me; with a slight smile on her face yet I know she's worried or concern.

Both of her eyes look deeply into mine; piercing.

''Is everything okay? Who were you talking to?'' She asks, glancing down at my phone before looking back up at me—trying to seek for answers in my eyes but luckily, I'm good at hiding certain things.

If I tell her that Cole called; Hannah's brother, she would start asking questions. Questions that might lead me to telling her the painful truth but then again, I am never too sure of the truth. Not just yet.

''If I tell you that it's no one, would you let it slip?'' I answer, looking back into her eyes. I, can never lie to her face without knowing that I'll be hurting her more because, yes, the truth may be painful and it may also be a lie so right now, lying is the best option.

Just for now, only for tonight. Never again.

She will never hear a lie from me again. Hopefully.

The way she looks at me; she's hesitating. I know that she wants to know everything about the phone call and that she wants to see if I'm being truthful. The fact that I'm not, it's kind of killing her. Even though she doesn't know what I'm hiding, she better not.

''If you go to bed with me then yes,'' She replies.

Deep down, I'm mentally dying.

The fact that she trusts me, hurts.